THE offseason has begun at its familiar point, which is to say teams already are acting outraged at the anticipated prices for free agents. Translation: Scott Boras is asking for what!

This is a rite of October/November played out annually before the first owner blinks, pays the freight and loosens up the whole industry.

There are a few rather unique touches, though, that threaten to alter the offseason market. One is the sagging economy. Naturally, agents are calling this just another fake out designed to try to keep salaries artificially lower. Another element lurking out there is the financial might of the Yankees.

They have roughly $88 million coming off the payroll and a new cash-cow stadium, a combination that could make them, more than any other franchise, financially bulletproof even in this economy. They clearly are motivated to upgrade after failing to make the playoffs and have several areas of need. One agent said – without any hint of a joke – he would not be surprised if the Yanks signed CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez. “Beyond having a conscious, there is no reason the Yanks cannot take their payroll to $250 million or more.”

An NL GM said, “The Yankees are the wild card of the offseason. Do they blow everyone away or do they operate like a real team with a real budget?”

The Yanks seem determined to try to solve their top need – starting pitching – via free agency with Sabathia, Burnett and Derek Lowe topping their list. But they certainly will be active information collectors if nothing else when the GM Meetings open tomorrow in Dana Point, Calif. If you think this gathering is a mere formality, then know this: The World Series was decided at last year’s meeting. That is when Houston traded Brad Lidge to the Phillies.

The free-agent class last offseason was horrible, which motivated trades. This year it is much better. But the economy is worse.

“I think, as always, you look trade first because the dollar costs are usually lower,” an AL personnel man said. “And you have a few GMs such as [the White Sox’s] Kenny [Williams], [Oakland’s] Billy [Beane] and [Boston’s] Theo [Epstein] who tend to motivate the trade market, and I think they will again this offseason.”

Two high-caliber players – Colorado’s Matt Holliday and San Diego’s Jake Peavy – already are available, and the expectation is Magglio Ordonez will be, as well, as Detroit is forced to pare payroll. But it will not end there. The Brewers recognize their chances of signing a long-term deal with first baseman Prince Fielder (a Boras client) are unlikely. So this might be the last offseason they could expect a big package in return. It coincides with a time when they probably will lose free-agent starters Sabathia and Ben Sheets and, thus, have rotation needs.

The Marlins already have traded first baseman Mike Jacobs to the Royals to thin what could have been 15 arbitration cases. They are not done. Reliever Kevin Gregg and starter Scott Olsen are available. Olsen is intriguing. He is a talented lefty, but his unstable personality, chronic back issues and somewhat diminished fastball could hurt his value. Some teams also think slugging second baseman Dan Uggla could be had in the right package.

Besides Holliday, the Rockies will talk about first baseman/third baseman Garrett Atkins (there was a lot of buzz about him going to Minnesota during the season). The White Sox want to get more athletic and would consider moving Paul Konerko or Jermaine Dye to facilitate that transition, and there was a report last week that they want to deal starter Javier Vazquez, as well.

Maybe there is a deal to be made with the Red Sox, because the White Sox have long been interested in obtaining center fielder Coco Crisp. Boston believes its offense is not of the vintage Manny Ramirez/David Ortiz days, but also is not as down as it looked late with Ortiz hurt and Mike Lowell out. The Red Sox, for now, are concentrating on pitching, whether they can re-sign catcher Jason Varitek (or need to find a receiver on the market) and dumping shortstop Julio Lugo’s odorous contract.

There are some closer types who will be discussed such as Oakland’s Huston Street and Seattle’s J.J. Putz, which will get the Mets’ attention.

The Mets, though, might be a year too late in this market. There is no Lidge available this time around.